Northampton No.8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze has been handed a four-week ban after being found guilty of a tip tackle on Exeter scrum-half Will Chudley during their Aviva Premiership clash on Sunday.

Van Velze was sin-binned for the tackle during the Saints' 24-21 victory at Franklin's Gardens after referee JP Doyle referred it to the Television Match Official but he was subsequently reported by citing officer Micky Ward.

The 24-year-old Van Velze, who was also yellow carded in the Saints' opening day victory over Gloucester, issued a public apology following the game via Twitter and pleaded guilty to the offence but was still suspended until October 10.

The former Blue Bulls star will miss the Premiership clashes against Bath, Worcester, London Wasps and London Irish.

The case was the first to be handled under the new citing procedure announced by the Rugby Football Union on the start of the new season.

Sorry for the ill discipline today, I had no intention to hurt anyone, haven't seen the replay yet but will have a look. #verydisappointed